Jonathan Kellerman, Doctor Death
Time Warner Books, 2000
Gruesome and gripping
Angel of mercy or serial killer? For most people, Eldon Mate was one or the other, and now that he is dead, murdered in a gruesome manner, there is no dearth of suspects. Mate, or Doctor Death, as he was known, was a self-proclaimed mercy-killer, having dispatched—assisted, if you like—around fifty people with his macabre Humanitron machine, supposedly at their request, operating out of the back of his van or in seedy motels.
When Mate is found brutally murdered in his van, hooked up to his own equipment, by two early morning joggers, the case is assigned to LAPD veteran, Detective Milo Sturgis. But any number of people, especially those who had lost loved ones, had a bone to pick with Mate, which makes Milo's job that much harder. He is stumped, and thus calls his good friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, for help.
Unknown to Milo, though, there is a conflict of interest for Alex—he has counselled the daughter of one of Mate's 'customers', Joanne Doss. When the father calls again for Alex's help, things become a bit dicey. Of course, when Milo finds out, there is some tension and hostility between our two heroes. Meanwhile. the suspects' list continues to grow and unanswered questions remain. Why had Joanne's husband paid off a shady character just before Mate's death? What exactly was Joanne's mysterious illness? Are the son and daughter hiding something? What about the sudden appearance of Mate's former wife? Why is a particular FBI agent so obsessed with Mate?
Narrated in first-person by Alex, Doctor Death is definitely above average Kellerman fare. Even though Alex's 'self-righteous pomposity' (as described by the Publishers Weekly) grates a bit, as does his beautiful, talented, understanding, ever-so-perfect girlfriend Robin, and their perfect love life! However, Milo is relentless and stolid as ever. Despite being among LAPD's best officers, his success rankles the powers that be as he dares to be openly gay. The fourteenth Alex–Milo book, this one fortunately has no underhand real estate dealings—a particular favourite of Kellerman's but most painful for those of us who understand nothing of it!
Altogether, a pretty good read. Kellerman is still riding the crest that was Survival of the Fittest, and if you have tried and rejected this author earlier, this is a good one to take up for a second chance. Jonathan Kellerman, though, is not to be confused with Faye Kellerman, his novelist-wife, who is also a crime fiction writer.
RATING: 7/10